Finks Resigns As Saints Gm But Will Stay On Board

NEW ORLEANS — Jim Finks, who transformed the New Orleans Saints from a chronic loser into an NFL playoff team, resigned Wednesday as the team's general manager and president.

Finks, 65, has been fighting lung cancer since May and was limited to consulting with Saints officials by telephone on contract negotiations since undergoing chemotherapy.

"I have received good reports from my doctors," Finks said in a statement issued by Saints owner Tom Benson. "There is an opportunity for me to fight this disease, and that's what I intend to do."

Finks said he would continue as a consultant and member of the board of directors. There was no immediate word on a permanent successor.

"I've got seven-plus years of blood, sweat and tears invested with the Saints," Finks' statement said. "I'm proud to continue to be involved and very proud of the people now running the organization."

Finks has been president and general manager since January 1986. Before his arrival, the team had 19 losing seasons-including 1980, when fans wore paper bags over their heads to protest a 1-15 record.

Finks hired Jim Mora as coach, and the Saints finished 7-9, fourth place in the NFC West. The next year, the Saints compiled their first winning record-12-3-and made their first playoff appearance.

In 1991, New Orleans was 11-5 and won the NFC West.

Finks had built winning teams before coming to New Orleans.

He played quarterback with the Steelers and Baltimore Colts from 1949 through 1955, when he joined the CFL Calgary Stampeders as a scout. After moving up to general manager the next year, he helped Calgary to the Grey Cup, then moved to the Vikings in 1964.

He hired Bud Grant in 1967, and the Vikings advanced to the Super Bowl twice.

Finks joined the Bears in 1974 and built one of the NFL's dominant teams. He acquired 19 of the 22 starters for a team that was 15-1 in 1985 and crushed New England 46-10 in the Super Bowl.

In 1983, he became president of the Chicago Cubs, who won the National League East in 1984.